We've mentioned our resident rafter of wild turkeys here a number of times. (Yes, "rafter" is a term for a group of turkeys.) Given the time of year and the fact that I saw a fascinating documentary about the bird, I'm inspired to spotlight them again.
Last night I watched "My Life as a Turkey," an episode of the PBS program "Nature," based on naturalist Joe Hutto's true story chronicling his remarkable and moving experience of raising a group of wild turkey hatchlings to adulthood.
He was seeking to understand the science of imprinting which "refers to a critical period of time early in an animal’s life when it forms attachments and develops a concept of its own identity." In essence, Hutto became mother to a brood of turkeys.
The Wild Turkey is quite an interesting bird and fairly different from the domestic turkey you might have "visiting" this Thanksgiving.
(Apologies to my vegan and vegetarian friends if there is anything in the following that suggests a turkey is anything but a wonderful example of native wildlife or a delightful pet...for your additional enjoyment, here is some information on the Wild Tofurkey and a delightful source of inspiration for a vegetarian Thanksgiving!)
NPR's A Vegetarian Thanksgiving story
A Vegan Thanksgiving Dinner (vegatarians welcome!)
OK, now that they are distracted I'm just going to say it, the turkey you will...um..."share" Thanksgiving with next week isn't much at all like its wild relative and very different from those eaten in early America. (There isn't actually certain evidence that turkeys were consumed at the "first" Thanksgiving; however, when the holiday was formalized as an official American holiday in the mid-1800's, turkey was definitely consumed at holiday meals.)
Domesticated turkeys are the over-bread, in-bread, "couch potato" cousin of the more agile and elegant Wild Turkey. Whereas the wild bird can run (quickly in bursts) fly for short periods (at the freeway speed limit if required), and can live for about 4 years, the domestic turkey is absurdly bulked-up, front heavy, barely able to move, incapable of flying, and lucky to live more than 6 months. The domestic bird has also lost all of the beautiful brown and gold coloring that helps camouflage its wild relative, leaving it with a mostly white plume. (More info. & source)
So, if you are prone to...um...invite a turkey to Thanksgiving and like to know from where your...um..."guests" are procured, I hope you found this interesting reading. (Are the vegans back yet??)
One last thing...
Mr. Audubon himself had quite a bit to say in his field notes about the Wild Turkey, along with a beautiful drawing of the bird (as he is of course well-known for producing).
The "Perfect" Fall Garden
I recently read a letter sent to one of my gardening magazines (yes, yes, I understanding the implication of having subscriptions to "gardening magazines") presenting a couple's dilemma regarding how to maintain their flower garden at this time of year. (The vegetable garden, of course, having been cultivated with planting for fall/winter produce.)
One half of the couple wanted to clean and trim so the garden looked "tidy," while the other wanted to leave the plants a bit longer so they would be more natural. I definitely agree with the "natural" approach.
Plants have a mission--to grow and produce to ensure perpetuation for the next season and/or next generation. Who am I to argue?
I like to let plants set and distribute seeds (even if they are just distributed to birds and squirrels), including the delightful (and tasty!) rose hips of our many rose bushes. And bulbs, tubers, corms need the energy produced by their leaves to prepare and store energy for the long winter and spring emergence. (As just two examples.)
So, I say it is fine to be a little rough around the edges when making a transition... from Autumn to Winter.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
~Timothy
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